2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.6% (male 7,454,765/female 7,322,130) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 9,631,488/female 9,508,068) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 359,354/female 432,012) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Airports

225 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5

total

15

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

210 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 115

under 914 m

84 (2006)

Area

land

569,250 sq km

total

582,650 sq km

water

13,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Background

Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over the constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement, which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular referendum in November 2005. Geography Kenya

Birth rate

39.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$5.377 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$4.448 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

1 17 S, 36 49 E

name

Nairobi

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Coastline

536 km

Constitution

12 December 1963; amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, 2001; note - a new draft constitution was defeated by popular referendum in 2005

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Kenya

conventional short form

Kenya

former

British East Africa

local long form

Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri y Kenya

local short form

Kenya

Currency (code)

Kenyan shilling (KES)

Currency code

KES

Current account balance

$-1.119 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

14.02 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$6.675 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER

embassy

US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiri; P. O. Box 606 Village Market Nairobi

mailing address

Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831

telephone

[254] (20) 537-800

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Peter Rateng Oginga OGEGO

telephone

[1] (202) 387-6101

Disputes - international

Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to approximately a quarter of a million refugees including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; the Kenya-Somalia border is open to pastoralists and is susceptible to cross-border clan insurgencies; Kenya's administrative limits extend beyond the treaty border into the Sudan, creating the Ilemi Triangle

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.5 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$453 million (1997)

Economy - overview

The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. As a result, GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2000. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1.2%. Growth lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the key December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation. In 2003, progress was made in rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support. Since then, however, the KIBAKI government has been rocked by high-level graft scandals. The World Bank suspended aid for most of 2006, and the IMF has delayed loans pending further action by the government on corruption. The scandals have not seemed to affect growth, with GDP growing more than 5% in 2006.

Electricity - consumption

5.459 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

150 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

5.709 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

17.7%

hydro

71%

nuclear

0%

other

11.3% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Kenya 5,199 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Exchange rates

Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 72.7649 (2006), 75.554 (2005), 79.174 (2004), 75.936 (2003), 78.749 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

chief of state

President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002); Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

President Mwai KIBAKI elected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); in addition to receiving the largest number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held December 2007); vice president appointed by the president

head of government

President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002); Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$3.614 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Exports - partners

Uganda 14.2%, UK 10.8%, US 9.7%, Netherlands 8.3%, Egypt 5.2%, Pakistan 4.8%, Tanzania 4.8% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 462-3829

[254] (20) 537-810

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Kenya

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center Economy Kenya

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

16.3%

industry

18.8%

services

65% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.39 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$40.77 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Geography - note

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value People Kenya

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

150,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1.2 million (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

37.2% (2000)

lowest 10%

2%

IDPs

431,150 (KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2006)

Illicit drugs

widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$6.602 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports - partners

UAE 20.9%, US 9.2%, India 7.7%, South Africa 6.7%, China 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, UK 5.1% (2005)

Independence

12 December 1963 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

6.3% (2006 est.)

Industries

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

56.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

61.92 deaths/1,000 live births

total

59.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.ke

Internet hosts

13,274 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

65 (2001)

Internet users

1,054,900 (2005) Transportation Kenya

Investment (gross fixed)

19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

1,030 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High Court

Labor force

1.955 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

75%

industry and services

25% (2003 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

total

3,477 km

Land use

arable land

8.01%

other

91.02% (2005)

permanent crops

0.97%

Languages

English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Legal system

based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called "nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7; ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - NARC 7, KANU 4, FORD-P 1

elections

last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held December 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

48.07 years (2006 est.)

male

49.78 years

total population

48.93 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

79.7% (2003 est.) Government Kenya

male

90.6%

total population

85.1%

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria is a high risk in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2007)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

7,083,726 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

7,303,153

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

3,471,926 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,963,532

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

18.3 years (2006 est.)

male

18.1 years

total

18.2 years

Merchant marine

by type

passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1

registered in other countries

6 (Bahamas 1, Comoros 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2006)

total

3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 6,049 GRT/7,082 DWT

Military branches

Kenyan Army, Kenyan Navy, Kenyan Air Force (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$280.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.6% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Kenya

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Nationality

adjective

Kenyan

noun

Kenyan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Natural resources

limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

according to the UNHCR, by the end of 2005 Kenya was host to 233,778 refugees from neighboring countries, including Somalia 153,627, Sudan 67,556, Ethiopia 12,595 (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

55,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

refined products 894 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya or FORD-Kenya [Musikari KOMBO or Soita SHITANDA, disputed]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Simeon NYACHAE]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [Nicholas BIWOTT or Uhuru KENYATTA, disputed]; National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-K [Mwai KIBAKI, unofficially, since the break-up of Kibaki's original coalition]; Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-Kenya [Raila ODINGA, unofficially]

Political pressure groups and leaders

human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political parties and nongovernment organizations [Ndung'u WAINANA]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]

Population

34,707,817

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.57% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Mombasa Military Kenya

Public debt

50.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios

3.07 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

total

2,778 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

150,459 (Somalia), 76,646 (Sudan), 14,862 (Ethiopia)

Religions

Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%

note

a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.35 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

note

there also are 100,000 km of rural roads and 14,500 km of urban roads for a national total of 177,765 km (2004)

paved

8,933 km

total

63,265 km (interurban roads)

unpaved

54,332 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system

general assessment

unreliable; little attempt to modernize except for service to business

international

country code - 254; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Telephones - main lines in use

281,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6.5 million (2006)

Television broadcast stations

8 (2002)

Televisions

730,000 (1997)

Terrain

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Total fertility rate

4.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Kenya is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation; children are trafficked within the country for domestic servitude, street vending, agricultural labor, and sexual exploitation; men, women, and girls are trafficked to the Middle East, other African nations, Western Europe, and North America for domestic servitude, enslavement in massage parlors and brothels, and manual labor; Chinese women trafficked for sexual exploitation reportedly transit Nairobi and Bangladeshis may transit Kenya for forced labor in other countries

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Kenya is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List due to a lack of evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking

Unemployment rate

40% (2001 est.)

Waterways

part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya (2003)